Thermostatic valve



Jun 21 1927.

M. G. HUBBARD THERMosTATIc VALVE 'Filed Feb.12, '1924 INVENTOR' Moses G Huljbard ATTORNEYS lllllllllllll `l maintained full of gas which is at thesame pressure as that which exists inside the radiator or steam pipe line with which it is connected.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a tlierniostatic air valve in which there is lost motion between the thermostat and the member which closes the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thermally controlled valve which is open when below a predetermined tempcrature and which is closed'above a predetermined temperature, the valve being held closed by gravity and the pressure of the fluid present unaffected by any temperature pressure relation which may exist in fluid. I have found such a feature of great value in thermostatic air valves for use in steam heating systems, as the construction of the valve permits its use on steam lines of any pressure. Also there is aii entire absence of wear brought about by fluctuation of steam pressure.

Another object of the invention is to prof vide a thermostatic air valve which responds to the slightest vacuum in the radiator, even before there'is sufiicient change in temperature for the tliermostatie member to open the valve.

The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of illustration, several of the -mariypossible embodiments in which my invention may take form.

, Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of an entire air valve;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, taken in thedireetion of the arrows,

' the parts being in the position assumed when cold;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 of the upper part of the apparatus, the parts being heated;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 ofV Fig. 1;

Fig. 5'is a section similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. `6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 2 of another modified form and;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Reference is now made to the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

A base or attaching member 5 has a screw threaded plug 6, which is adapted to be threaded upon the usual apertiired boss provided on radiators for the attachment of air valves. The plug 6 is provided with two horizontal passages 7 and 8. In the draW- ing the passage 7 is shown directly above theV passage 8 and this arrangement is preferred'as it economizes space. In this case, the passage 7 is shorter than'the passage 8 and it meets a vertical passage 9, which extends toward the upper-surface 10 of the block 5.v it is preferably counter-bored at v11 to accommodate a tube 1.2, which may be soldered in place. AThe lower hole 8 connects with a second vertical hole 13, which is also carried tothe upper surface 10 of the base 5. This hole is here shown as being directly ba-ckfof the tube 12. rThe material vner similar to the fastening in of the tube 12.

The tube 16 is much longer than ther tube 12.

It passes up parallel with this tube and. Y

then, in the form shown in the drawing, is bent as at 17 so that the upper end 18 of this tube is in the center of the structure. The tubes may be fastened together by a drop of solder 16', which makes the structure more rigid. Theupper end ofthe tube 16 is suitably fastened, as by soldering, to a member 19 and shelf 20, the upper surface 21 of which `may slope as indicated.'V An aperture 22, preferably a'reamed hole, communicates withthe interior of tube 16 and the material about the upper edge of this hole then has a suitable configuration so that a seat 23 is formed for a ball 24. A housing 25 lis provided about the seat 23 andthis on i housing isA covered by a member 26, the

housing being open at the lower,V end 27. The surface 2O` may be horizontal and, in that case, I prefer to bring the housingV 25 so close to the hole that the ball cannot roll ifm onto the horizontal surface, the ball resting on the edge of the hole 22.v The member 19 may conveniently be made from a piece of square brass tubing or a piece of sheet material which is folded to shape, a portion of the material beinfT folded down to provide the shelf 20, which preferably extends the full widtliof the member 19. This shelf may be soldered to the upper edge of the member 19 and when so fastened it reinforces it. Asthe tube 16 is soldered to this shelf land toan inside wall 28 of the member '19, it is obvious that the member 19 is supported from the base 5 byrmeans of the tube 1G.

To the opposite inside wall 29, of the ineinber 19, there is'fastened a thermally responsive device SO-3G. ri'fhisl device is in the made froin- .metals hai-"ing as great difference in coeiiieient of expansion as is available. Galvanized iron or stainless steel and Zinc form a suitable combii'ird'ion.v A thermostat form Vof a bi-metallic thermostat, preferably als shown, and a piece ot" Zinc 34 is fitted a 0ainst this piece ot' galvanized ironl between said shoulders. The upper end of the bis metallic structure'SOthereby formed is' rivl etcd or soldered 'to the member 19, the tw'o pieces oidissiinilar metal being fastened to'- gether ask by rivets one of which is shown at A further tli'ermos'tatio structure 36 is fastened tol the lower end of the irstV structure 30. The structure-bis m'adeupsimilar to the structure' 30, but is shown as being a little longer so that the upper end' 37' ot one ot the component metal strips extendsl up through opening 38 in the member 19. In this thermostatic device S04-36, the two ferrous pieces are thus between the two Zine` pieces, and withincrease of temperature the two structures 30 and 36 approach one another at their upper ends.` Beyond the eX- tension 37v is an extension 4D which reaches through the opening 27 in the housing'25 so as to engage the'ball 24 when the thermostat is cold. To prevent Corrosion and-tov pre'- serve lan intimate union between the thermostatic elements, I' prefer to dip the thermostatic elements in solder. The ball is ,held in place by the housing and the thermostat.

lVhile the parts l5 and 19 may be given any convenient configuration, I have foundl it preferable to make them square,-as m a square structure' the space can be utilized very economically, especiallyfwhere a' bi-metallic thermostat is used. Thel members19 and 5 are held in proper relation to one another by the tube 16 and an outside cover member 41 is arranged to slip ydowrrover themember l19 and ontoy the member 5. vThe cover member. is provided with a short slot 42' to accommodate the member 6. "l`his cover member 41 may be conveniently made vfrom a piece of squarevtubing and an ornamental shape can begi'ven it by slitting the tubing appropriately and bending in the top to form a pyramid 43 as illustrated. The lower end ot this outside member may be soldered to the base 5, thereby vclosing up the device. i

,Assuming that the device hasY been suitably connected to a radiator,.and that steam is approaching the radiator: yThe thermally responsive device 30-36 will then be cold and positioned, as' shown in Fig. 2 so that the extension 40 holds the ball 24'o the seat 23. The steamv cannot entern into the radiator',ex cept as thel air inA the radiator escapes. The valve being open, the air may escape inthe 'followingmanner: Through the passage 7,

tube 12 into the chamber 44,A provided by the casing` 41, and out through'the tube16 (which lmaybe s'aid to provide a second chamber) and drilling 15. 4The parts are all massive and the design is suchj that this es'- cape of air makes no 'noise. As the air be# comes hnlallyvexhausted an'dfsteamfy lenters the chamber 44, it warms the tower free end valve'.

of the thermostatic` member and begins Vto .e'zpand it'. Thisv warming' 'is accompanied and collects on the hoorot' the chamber. It

then drains d'own intothe passages 18 and 8. The steam slowly7 displaces. the' air upward and forces it outthrough the tube' 16. 'The condensate'which drips back-into the radiator is4 .directed downward by capillary attraction of the out 14, so that there is no tendency for it to draw upward intothe passage 7.y It is therefore impossible for the air valve t'o b'ecome water' loggedl The pressure ofthe steam or ot a mixture ot steam and air'in the upper end of the chamber 44 willl holdi the ball 24 downag'ai'nst the seat and elfectively seal the opening', so as to prevent the escape of steam. Some steam may, however, pass by the ball'and` enter the upper end ot' the cham'- ber formedv by tube 161; but asthis tube is nside the chamber 44 and is` heated by the steam, it is .apparent that the steam passing the ball will not condense. Any steam or mixture of steai'nI and air' which can escape from the' drilling 15 will be dry andA noy drops ot water can possiblyv beA formed at this point because of the drying action in the tube 16 and because the member 5 ris heated botliby steam and by the heat 'conducted from the radiator.A This prevents the hissing out ot' ste-am or spatteri'n'g'ot water which has been generally` prevalent in aix-valves heretofore in use. l

l Reference is now made to Figs. 5 andi 6, which describe aA modified form ot ball check The lower endfy of this valve, which is omitted from the drawings, may be identical with the lower endi ol the valve shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and ther same cover member4'3 maybe used `According to the present modiication, an upper' member 50 :is provided, which is, to a* considerable extent, similar to the upper member 19 previously described. It may be made by cutting olf a section of vsquare brass tubing'. The upper ledge of two-sides of thispiece'of tubing is eut away to accommodate a vmen'ib'er 51. ing member 5'1'is' provided with a centrally located aperture 52' and isvcounter-bored at 53 to receive a tube 54, which may be similar to the tube 16. The tube 54 andv bridging member 51 are soldered together rand the tube 51 is soldered: to the member 50 so that theV tube 51 maybe supported from the base 5. A thermostatic device v55v similar to the vol This bridgmember 3()A is carried by the upper member 50, eitherby soldering or riveting. The

upper end'v of this thermostati'c member differs' Lfrom the upper end of the thermally responsive device 30 in the construction. of the valve operating means. In the: present caffe, one of the metallic elements of the thermo-y stat 56'is bent over, as kat 57, tobe parallel to 'the upper surface f the bridging member 51 and to be spaced a considerable distance from it. rIhe other element 58 of the thermostat is doubled upon itself as shown at 59 and is then bent out as at 60 so as to be intermediate the portion 57 and the upper proper' seating and unseating of the ball and permits the ball to be held seated by the pressure of 'the steam in the upper chamber 14. The ball is positively actuated both ways. In both forms of the device so far described, the parts may be so arranged that the free end of the thermostat is brought over against the anchored end at the temperature of steam. In such case, further increase in temperature will have no appreciable effectin moving the fingers provided for actuating the ball.

The instant that the pressure inside the chamber 44 becomes less than atmospheric pressure, the valve opens. rIhis is on account of the ease of moving the ball relative to the seat and may be brought about by an extremely small difference in pressure.

` The prompt opening of the valve permits the VL1o y mg steam heating systems, the mode air to flow in quickly, Whereas, in some valves the opening is so delayed, on account of the time lag of the thermostat, that considerable difference in pressure exists; a large quantity of air must rush in, thereby creating considerable noise. In single pipe modulatof operation requires that, When modulating, the pressure inside the radiator must be at-mospheric. It is therefore apparent that the air valve should operate on a minimum pressure difference. I have found my valve admirablysuited for this purpose, as proper pressure is maintained in the radiator, it being easy for the. condensate to return to the supply pipe Without surging.

Except for the bi-metallic elements of the thermostat, itis preferable to make the entire device of brass fastened Vtogether by soldering. In suchcase, there is nothing to corrode and the device should last indefinitely. 'Ihe ball. maybe of hard bra-ss or broniae of the diameter of about {'g of an inch. There will be no appreciable Wear on this ball or its seat as a new surface of the ball is presented each time the device is operated. y

The device is designed so that theheat of steam at atmospheric pressure is sutlicient to Hex the thermostat and permit the sealing of the opening, and that further movement of the thermostat owing to increase in tem- Wearing of the parts brought about by this` cause in the older types of air valves. In the present ease, the only effect of change of steam pressure is to press the ball more tightly against its seat; but this induces no Wear. rlhe movements of the thermostat brought by variation of the pressure of the steam merely change the spacing between the end of the tip t() and the ball, Without bringing them into contact until the disappearance of the steam. l

When the steam has been cut off from the radiator, the radiator and the device herein discussed both cool. Thev cooling of the thermostatic elements causes it to move from the position shovvn inv Fig. 1 to the position shoivn in Fig. 3, andpush the vball oft' its seat. This opens the passage 16, so as to admit air into the radiator. parts past Which the air moves are made heavy no noise accompanies this transfer of air. v

rllhe form of structure llustrated'in Figs. 7 and 8 `resembles the structures heretofore described; but instead of the ball check valve, I here show a flap check valve having a movable member` pivoted aty 66 to an upper member 67. The seatA 68 for this valve may be fastened to thel member '67 by soldering and this seat .is provided with a sloping face 69, against which the flap of the check valve is adapted to rest. A .suitable aperture 70fis` provided lfor communication With the tube 71. In the present case the upper ends 72 andl 73 of the thermostat are so arranged that expansion takes place in the other direction as the valve is to be closed by movement to the left. The lupper end 74 of the element 72 is bifurcated as shown in Fig. 8 to engage the outer portions 751 in the movable member 65 to the flap va ve.

lIt is obviousthat my invention may be embodied in many other forms, 4which it ap-v pears to be unnecessary toillustrate. Instead of check valves of the type here shown, other forms ofcheck valves may be used or I may substitute a -slide valve or any other form of valve to accomplish `the purpose'of shutting off communication in the upper end of the chamber. Instead of the base member 5 being made for a rightangle connection As the y as shown inthe dra-wings, it obvious-that it may be m-ade 'for' any-,other angle, and,'in case the vvalve is to rise straightiupfrom the steam chamber, the air-valve ,connecion can ,be placed directly underneath and straight passages be usedinstead oi; angular ones. ln suehcases, the drillingvr 15; would,

of icourse, pass Idown outside of thethreade' Bymalnng theentire device fof-f drops ol' water to be squirted or sprayediout Y of the exhaust and into the room. kBi-metallic thermostats operate'best .when made flat and, hence, in an air valve using a bi-.metallic thermostat-,space canbeeconcmized by using a square member Vfor the outer casino'.

I claim zl. An air va'lve forl steam heating systems having an apertured seat open at one side to the atmosphere, a freely movable member on the other side adapted to open or to close the aperture, a thermostat for operating the movable member, said movable member moving to open position whenever the atmospheric pressure is greater than the pressure inside the system and movable by gravity when the thermostat is cold. K

2. A thermostatic air valve for steam heatingsystems having a port leading to the atmosphere, and an independent closure member for the port said closure member being movable to open the port whenever the pressure in the system is less than atmospheric and siphon means for draining water from said valve. Y

3. A thermostatic air valve for steam heating systems having a check valve, a thermostat for holding it open when cold and for permitting it to close by gravity when hot, the valve being held closed when hot by the positive pressure of the steam, the valve opening upon the appearance of a negative pressure irrespective of mechanical pressure by the thermostat from heat-bias.

4. An air valve for steam heating devices having a chamber, a Vfreely movable and gravity operable valve in the chamber, a thermostat in the chamber connected to the valve to operate it, and an exhaust passage connecting the valve to the atmosphere, said passage throughout the greater part of its length having a wall inside the chamber where said wall is subject to the heating medium to dry the outgoing gas, said passage being spaced from a wall of the chamber by a greaterr distance than thethiclrness of the` passage-wall.:

5. .An-air lvalverfor'steam heatingdevices having chamber, la gravity operable ball check valve in the rupper vportion Yof the chamber, a tliern'iostat in the chain'berconnected, to the valve to operatejit, and an eX- liaust-passage leading down from the valve to and ythrough the bottom wall ol' the cas'- ing, said .passage beinginside the chamber. where it is subject to the heating medium to dry vthe outgoing gas. i

G, vAn air-'valve for steam heating devices having a chamber, a gravity operable check.

valve in the cl amber, a thermostat in the chamber connected tothe valve to operate it to open position when cold and permit itto close when hot, and an exhaust-passage connecting the valve tothey atmosphere, said passage being inside the chamber whereaittis subjectto the heating mediumV t-odry the outgoing gas.

i'. An air valve having a basemember provided with a threadedplug, a plurality of passages extending through vthe plug and passing upwardly,- one being: extended beyond A the other whereby saidother passage may drain liquid condensed above the base member, the lower lend of said last mentioned passage being cut back to drain the Water away from the first passage.

' 8. An air valve having a base member provided with a threaded plug, a plurality of passages extending through the plug and passing upwardly, one being extended beyondl the other whereby said other passage may drain liquid condensed above the base member, anadditional passage through the basel member which communicates with the atmosphere, and a thermostatically operatedv valve at the upper end of said additional passage.

9. Anv air valve for steam heating systems comprising a chamber having a ball seat communicating with theatmosphere,'a ball freely resting upon said seat, means for connecting said system with the heating chamber and means for discharging Water from said chamber into said heating system, the parts being so arranged that negative pressure in the system unseats the ball.

Vl0. An air valve for steam heating systems comprising a chamber' having a ball seat communicating with the atmosphere, a ball freely resting upon saidseat, and a thermostat adjacent to said'ba'll and arranged to bear laterally thereon to unseat the ball when the thermostat is cold. e

11. An air valve for heating systems having two chambers, one communicating directly with the system andthe other to the atmosphere, a ball valve seat aifording communications between said chambers and a ball freely resting upon said seat to control the communication between the chambers, said valve opening when the pressure in the second chamber exceeds the pressure in th-e first, and siphon means tor withdrawing water from said lirst mentioned chamber'.

12. An air valve for heating systems having twor chambers, one communicating directly with the system and the other to the atmosphere, a ball valve seat ailording communications between said chambers and a ball freely resting upon .said seat to control the communication between the chambers, said valve. opening when the pressure in the second chamber exceeds the pressure in the first, and Siphon means Yfor withdrawing water from said irst mentioned chamber, and a thermostat within said iirst mentioned chamber adapted to bear laterally upon said ball when said thermostat is cold, to unseat the same.

13. An air valve having` a basev member for attachment to a radiator` a thermostat, a hollow support for the thermostat, the `support being open at the top, a cover, .a passage connectingthe hollow support to the atmosphere other than through the space 14. A thermostatic air valve havingfja chamber, a Vvthermostat, a ball check valve which is closed' when the thermostat is hot, andan exhaust pipe inside the 4chamber connected to the checkl valve, the heating medium in the chamber heating the pipe to d rythe contents thereof. v

l5. A thermostatic air valve having a chamber, a thermostat movable laterally therein, `a ballcheclrvalve which is closed by gravity when the thermostat is hot and opened by actuation of thethermostat. when cold, an exhaust pipe inside they chamber connected to the check valve, and so located and constructed that steam in the chamber Y constitutes a heatingl means or medium in Contents thereof.

Moses e. i-IUBBARD. 

